Previews

NCAA Football 06

While it's clear that the developers are putting a heavy emphasis on the Heisman mode, there are plenty of other exciting additions to the series. One of the biggest features is the new "Impact Player" system, which helps let the player know which members of his team have the ability to almost single-handedly alter the course of a game. Every team has at least one go-to guy on offense, although many of the big name schools have several weapons to choose from when they need that extra yard or have to pull off a game winning drive. On the offensive side of the ball, impact players are, not surprisingly, the guys who get a lot of touches: quarterbacks, running back, and wideouts. Alternately, any defensive player can be the big play guy, from the safeties to the ends, as can the kicker. In close games, a field goal or extra point can be the difference between winning and losing.

Just because a guy is an impact player, however, doesn't mean he'll always be a superman on the field. As is the case in real life, certain guys will be able to turn it on when they really need it, almost reaching a point where it seems like everyone else is moving in slow motion. Athletes call it being "in the zone" and it's actually represented very literally in NCAA Football 06. When one of your impact players is feeling it, the halo below him will pulse rapidly, and the chances of him making a big play increase dramatically. He'll also be able to pull special moves out of his bag of tricks, such as a powerful stiff-arm or a lightning fast spin move. All it takes is one broken tackle to give you a clear path to the end zone, so timing is everything.

Although the NCAA series has been overshadowed by the juggernaut that is Madden since its inception, the developers have gone to great lengths to make NCAA Football 06 a must-have title in its own right. The addition of the Race for the Heisman mode offers a welcome alternative to the fairly dry (though still extremely entertaining) Dynasty mode, and there is sure to be plenty of gamers who will hoist the hardware on more than one occasion. Hey, if Andre Ware could do it, so can you.